It's fifth time since 1980 the 49ers have lost at least 12 games in a season

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San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle celebrates after scoring during the second half in an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Mark Barron #26 of the Los Angeles Rams sacks Nick Mullens #4 of the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle #85 looks on as Los Angeles Rams cornerback Blake Countess #24 intercepts a pass during the first half of a game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is tackled by Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill during the second half in an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Rams inside linebacker Mark Barron, rear, breaks up a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle during the first half in an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, top, catches a pass over Los Angeles Rams strong safety John Johnson during the first half in an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Three interceptions in the opening four series should merit a harsher grade for Nick Mullens and his pass protectors. But the 49ers achieved their goal of getting George Kittle the NFL record for most receiving yards in a season by a tight end. Kittle capped his nine-catch, 149-yard day with a 43-yard, catch-and-run touchdown. That gave him 1,377 yards, vaulting him past the record set earlier Sunday by the Chiefs’ Travis Kelce. Mullens shook off those early miscues and threw three touchdown passes, the others going to Kendrick Boure and Richie James Jr.

RUN OFFENSE: C-

Kyle Juszczyk’s fumble on the opening series should merit a harsher grade for this unit. But Alfred Morris, inactive four of the previous five games, replaced an injured Jeff Wilson Jr. and ran for 111 yards. Morris’ 1-yard touchdown run gave the 49ers only their seventh rushing score this season. Next season, the 49ers need Jerick McKinnon and Matt Breida back healthy to complement the Kittle-led passing attack.

PASS DEFENSE: F

No interceptions, no sacks, and no mistaking this as a glaring weakness all season. Jared Goff completed only 15 passes, but four were four touchdowns. Antone Exum’s hit to break up a pass drew a penalty flag when it really looked like a great play (for another era).

A highly uneventful day, perhaps highlighted by Robbie Gould making his 23rd consecutive field-goal attempt (30 yards) and finishing the season with a franchise-record for accuracy, having made 97.1-percent of his attempts (33 of 34). James returned the opening kick 25 yards, for the 49ers’ only return of any kind. Bradley Pinion, a pending free agent along with Gould, went out with two punts that averaged 44 yards (net).

COACHING: C+

Falling behind 28-3 en route to loss No. 12 merits a harsher grade. But consider what coach Kyle Shanahan and his staff have dealt with amid a season that went off the rails early. Pumping out 391 offensive yards with a cast of practice-squad players is remarkable. Defensively, Robert Saleh’s unit looked as bad as ever at the beginning, but by stopping the Rams on fourth down, the 49ers got the ball back to get Kittle his record.